The hookah or water pipe is a traditional Middle Eastern smoking device that has become popular all over the world. Sucking a hookah is common, but what if you want to hook a hookah? If you're confused and looking for a little help, you've come to the right place.
Step
Method 1 of 2: Installing the Pipe
Step 1. Clean the hookah
Wash the hookah with water and a soft brush before using it for the first time and whenever it gets dirty. Remove all the parts first and wash them one by one except the hose; Consider that these parts are not water safe unless stated otherwise on the package label. Wipe off with a towel and allow to air dry before proceeding to the next process.
- Cleaning after use is ideal, but clean any time you see ashes in the vase or if the smoke smells bad.
- The long, thin brush helps to reach the inner side of long sections. You can get good brushes at stores that sell hookahs.
Step 2. Pour cold water into the vase
This is a large glass case that sits at the bottom of the hookah. Fill with enough water to a height of 2.5 cm or a little more to cover the metal rod. Leaving a little room for air is important for dissolving the smoke so that it is easier to inhale through the hose. If you have a mini hookah, you can only cover it with 1 cm of water to leave room for air and to prevent the hose from submerging.
- The rod is a metal joint that sits at the bottom of the center hookah pipe. Insert the hookah pipe from the top of the vase to see how far the stem goes.
- Water doesn't filter out nicotine and other substances as much as hookah smokers think. Adding more water will not make the hookah any safer.
Step 3. Add ice (optional)
While hookah smoke, properly smoked, is not harsh at all, the cool temperatures will make this smoke more pleasant. You may need to add water to adjust it to the right level, as described above.
Step 4. Insert the hookah pipe into the base of the glass vase
Lower the hookah pipe to the bottom, so that it enters the water. There is a piece of silicone or rubber attached to the top of the base of the vase to make it airtight. If it is not airtight, the smoke will be thin and difficult to inhale.
If the rubber piece doesn't fit properly, dampen it with a little water or a drop of dish soap
Step 5. Connect the hose
The hose is inserted into the hole on the side of the hookah pipe. Like the bottom of the vase, these holes must also be airtight. On some hookahs, the hole will be closed if no hose is attached. On other models, you will need to attach all the hoses even if you are smoking the hookah alone.
Double check the water level before connecting the hose. If the water level is too close to the hose connection, the water may damage the hose
Step 6. Check the air flow
Place your hand on the top of the hookah pipe to block air from entering the hookah. Try to suck through the hose. If you can feel the presence of air, one of the hose connections is not airtight. Check that everything is securely fastened and the rubber or silicone piece is covered.
If you lose a hose cap, look for a “hook ring” for a replacement. Plaster athletic tape that is glued tightly together can serve as a temporary airtight covering
Step 7. Position the metal tray on the top of the hookah pipe
This tray holds excess hot ash and tobacco if and when they fall to the bottom.
Method 2 of 2: Sucking Hookah
Step 1. Stir in the shisha
Shisha is tobacco that is packaged in a liquid form that adds flavor and creates thick smoke. This liquid tends to settle to the bottom of the hookah, so stir it quickly to spread it out.
- If it's your first time smoking hookah, consider using tobacco-free hookah molasses to practice. Tobacco is harsh if you make a mistake.
- Shisha comes in a variety of flavors, which can change the smoking experience significantly. Try a few flavors to see what you prefer as a beginner hookah sucker.
Step 2. Mash the shisha and put it in a bowl
Stir in the shisha and pour it into a bowl. Press lightly to produce an even layer without compacting the tobacco. The shisha should not be too dense so that the air can flow easily. Fill the bowl almost to the top, but leave at least 2mm of space above the tobacco so it doesn't burn.
Step 3. Cover with thick aluminum sheet
Place a thick aluminum sheet over the bowl, fixing it securely. Fold the aluminum sheet over the edges of the bowl to secure it.
- If you only have regular aluminum sheets, use two coats.
- You can use a charcoal screen (a kind of container with small holes to hold charcoal) which is sold for this purpose, but most users prefer to use aluminum sheet.
Step 4. Place the bowl over the hookah pipe
This bowl must be securely attached to the rubber piece, so that it is airtight.
Step 5. Make some holes in the aluminum sheet
Using a toothpick or paper clip, make 12-15 holes in the surface of the aluminum sheet. Test the airflow by sucking on the hose as you do so. If you're having trouble sucking in air, add more holes.
Some people prefer to drill holes through the shisha to provide a channel for heat and air
Step 6. Burn two or three charcoals
There are two types of charcoal used for hookahs. Follow these instructions, depending on the type of hookah you have:
- Charcoal that burns quickly: Hold the charcoal with food tongs in a non-flammable area. Heat with a lighter or match until the charcoal has stopped smoking, then wait 10-30 seconds for it to become covered in ash and give off an orange glow. This is fine, but will result in a shorter and worse smoke. Some people even get headaches from inhaling this smoke.
- Natural charcoal: Heat directly over the flame of a stove or electric stove, but don't let the ashes fall onto the gas or glass joint. The charcoal is ready to use when it has given off an orange glow, usually after 8-12 minutes.
Step 7. Transfer the charcoal onto the aluminum sheet
Lay the charcoal evenly around the aluminum sheet or slightly to the edges. A common mistake is to accumulate charcoal in the center, so that the shisha catches fire and creates a short, hard smoke.
Many shisha smokers prefer to warm the shisha for 3-5 minutes before starting to smoke it. This allows you to suck on slowly, thus enhancing the taste
Step 8. Suck
When the bowl is warm---or immediately, if you're impatient-suck it through one of the hoses. The breath draws air through the charcoal, making it hot. If you suck on it too hard, the air will heat up quickly, causing the shisha to burn and you'll cough up the unpleasant-tasting smoke that gets into your lungs. Use short, normal breaths. Sip leisurely, pausing for the shisha to cool.
If no smoke appears in the vase, take short, sharp breaths to light the tobacco
Tips
There are more traditional types of hookah tobacco besides shisha. These dried leaves are usually firm and without added taste. To smoke it, place the charcoal directly over the leaves, without using the aluminum sheet
Warning
- Hot charcoal can be dangerous, so be sure to hold it with a steady hand.
- Like other tobacco smoke, hookah smoke also carries major health risks.
